Gezicht op een zaal met schoorsteenmantel in het Kasteel van Gaasbeek, België before 1898

This print by G. Choppinet captures a hall within the Castle of Gaasbeek, and is dominated by the monumental fireplace. Observe the decorative motifs, such as roundels, shields, and foliage, symbols that evoke ideas of nobility, lineage, and strength, acting as silent narrators of the castle’s history. The fireplace itself—a symbol of the hearth and home—is a recurring motif throughout art history. Think of the Roman "Lararium," a household shrine, where the fire represented the family's spirit. Here, the fireplace is not just a source of warmth, but a symbol of power and continuity. The table, too, calls to mind images of communal feasting and societal bonds. Consider the Last Supper, where Christ shares a meal with his disciples, or Arthur's Round Table, a symbol of equality. Here in Gaasbeek, the table is a stage upon which the drama of life unfolds, each object upon it, a player in the story. These symbols, deeply rooted in our collective unconscious, resonate with us across time. They engage us on a level far beyond the purely visual, tapping into the very core of our shared human experience.